Antigua and Barbuda’s Kiara Kwenga to Represent at Regional Tourism Youth Congress
Antigua and Barbuda will be represented by Junior Minister of Tourism Kiara Kwenga at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional Tourism Youth Congress, set for October 2 at the Hilton Barbados Resort.
The Congress, a flagship event of the annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), brings together students aged 14 to 17 from 16 CTO member states and territories. Each serves as a “Junior Minister or Commissioner of Tourism,” presenting research and innovative ideas on the future of Caribbean tourism.
Organized in collaboration with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., the initiative has become one of CTO’s signature youth development programs. It aims to sharpen critical thinking, build communication skills, and give delegates a platform to share their vision for the sector.
“This initiative transcends a simple competition,” said Sharon Banfield-Bovell, CTO’s Director of Resource Mobilization and Development. “It represents a fundamental pathway to developing future tourism advocates and innovators who will help define the trajectory of the Caribbean tourism sector.”
Beyond the competition, students will take part in the wider SOTIC program, including a master class led by Ed Limon, cofounder and CEO of Winged Whale Media, known for its work in immersive media and virtual tourism. They will also benefit from a career-focused workshop, Level Up: A Teen Career Launchpad for Work, Life & Leadership, facilitated by Davina Layne of Your Corporate Image.
Last year’s top honors went to Nevis representative Keyana Warner at the 20th CTO Tropical Shipping Regional Tourism Youth Congress in the Cayman Islands. This year, Kwenga and her peers will seek to impress judges with fresh perspectives on how to strengthen the Caribbean’s most vital industry.
The 2025 Youth Congress is supported by Breeze Travel Solutions, Carnival Corporation & plc, Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx), Marketplace Excellence (MPE), and Winged Whale Media.
The broader SOTIC conference runs from September 30 to October 3 at the Hilton Barbados Resort. More details are available at sotic.onecaribbean.org.
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